Page 188 - TheHopiIndians

180 MESA FOLK OF HOPILAND

monsters, and the time and manner of their deliver
ance they delight to recount in many weird stories
during the winter nights by their flickering fires of
pinon wood.
In the earth lived the Spider Womau, ancient of
days, fall of wisdom, and having a tender regard for
her people, the Hopi. Born to her from a light-ray
and a drop of rain were the Twins; one, the son of
light, was the little war-god called the Youth; the
other was Echo, the son of the cloud.
The Youth became the savior of the people; his
heroic deeds of the old times in slaying the monsters
cause him still to be held in reverence by the Hopi
and remembered in their ceremonies.
The conquests of the Twins gave rise to many
strange adventures. The transformation of the man-
eagle by the Twins is a favorite legend of the Hopi.
In the above, in the heart of the sky, lived the
Man-Eagle. On the people of the whole earth he
swooped down, carrying aloft women and maidens
to his house, where after four days he devoured them.
The Youth, journeying to the San Francisco Moun
tains, met at the foot-hills the Pinon maids dressed
in mantles of pinon bark and grass, and here like
wise he met the Spider Woman and the Mole. "You
have come," said they in greeting; "sit down; whence
go you?" Then said the Youth, "Man-Eagle has
carried away my bride and I seek to bring her hack."
"I will aid you," said the Spider Woman.